What’s better than Betty White? A Betty White AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit! We combed through the thousands of questions and answers and pullout out the very best. Here they are.
1.?Who are the most famous people you’ve ever met?
“Pres. Obama, Pres. Clinton, Pres. Bush Sr., and the Queen of England.”
2.?Did you ever meet Lucille Ball? If so what was she like?
“Lucy was one of my dearest friends. Our mothers were both best friends. She was dynamite. Everything you saw was what you got. We used to play backgammon, and she used to teach me the game but she used to move the pieces so fast. I used to say how are you teaching me if you move the pieces so fast and she would say I want to win!”
3. What is your favourite type of candy/chocolate?
“I’m not a big sweet tooth. However, if you happen to have any french fries…”
4. If you could relive one specific moment in life, what would it be?
“Well at 92, that question gets pretty rough to answer. There have been so many special moments. One of the top ones was marrying [her husband] Allen Ludden.” (they met on the game show Password)
5.?How have you developed such a close relationship with Craig Ferguson? I love seeing you on the show! Can you just be his official sidekick and have Geoff host the Late show?
“But I can’t make Geoff’s weight. My relationship with Craig is such a delight. I had the pleasure of doing his first show when he first arrived when he came from Scotland. We became dear friends and it never stopped.”
6.?Can you remember when you first felt successful or when you knew what you wanted to do for the rest of your life?
“When I wrote the graduation play from grammar school and of course wrote myself into the lead!”
7.?Where is the strangest location that someone has recognized you?
“Way up in Ireland, in the countryside.”
8.?What is a typical day in the life of Betty White? Also, what is your favorite food?
“A day in my life is up at 6:30am, usually either appointments or working at home before filming. I go to work and come home, catch up on mail, to bed about midnight.”
9. What’s your favorite technological innovation of the past 25 years?
“Sliced bread?” (It was pointed out that sliced bread was invented in 1928 and Betty was born in 1922, so she is older than sliced bread.)
10. What’s your favorite cocktail?
“Vodka on the rocks with a big lemon squeeze.”
11. Holy wow, it’s Betty White! I’m starting a new band. Name it?
“Rubber…Then you could be called Rubber Band.”
12.?What’s your favourite memory from being on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?
“So many… being washed off the table during a flood scene. It was during a horrendous rainy season flood we were having here in LA. Johnny and I were sitting at a cafe table on stage and a ton of water came pouring out washing us off the stage! The producers said, pretend it washes you away. Pretend?! It was 500 gallons!”
13.?Betty white!! I’m a huge fan!! I’ve always wanted to ask, how do you stay with the mindset of a young woman?
“Oh, because I’m childish at heart!”
14. Favorite animal?
“Oh, that’s asking somebody with 9 children which is their favorite! Anything with a leg on each corner.” and “I love snakes, too!”
15.?If they were making a Betty White biopic, who do you envision playing the role of Betty White?
“I would love it if it were Meryl Streep or Julie Andrews but they would probably cast someone like Chris Rock.”
16.?HI Betty White! This is so cool, I’m a big fan. What are your top 3 favorite smells??
“?New puppies, pine trees, and new kittens”
17.?How do you do it? You’re acting career has been solid for many years while others have fizzled out. What keeps you going??
“?Thanks to my mom and dad, good genes.”
18. Pancakes or waffles?
“Waffles.”
19.?What has been your fondest memory working with Bea, Rue, and Estelle on the show? Also, how did TV production differ then versus now?
“Just being with all of the girls was wonderful. Rue and I had such a ball because we would play games when we weren’t on the show. We used to have riddles for each other between scenes and when the scene was over we would give each other the answer.”
20.?What’s one thing you miss about television that isn’t the same as it was when you started acting, and what’s one thing you’re glad to have now that you didn’t back then?
“Fortunately, I still get to do live television. It’s the most fun of all. You look in to that camera and you’re talking to only 2 or 3 people. If there are more than 3 people in a room, they are talking to each other and not listening to you, so that camera becomes you’re most intimate conversation.”
21.?What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your life?
“I try not to give advice to others I have enough trouble trying to run my own life.”
22.?What’s your favorite movie?
“Out of Africa.”
23.?If you never did acting, what would you have done?
“Zookeeper.”
24.?What was George Burns like in person? Do you have an interesting story about him that not many people might know?
?”George was a delight. He could crack me up just by saying hello.”
25. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure song?
“Misty.”
26. Describe meeting Queen Elizabeth.
“It was very exciting. The Queen was lovely. We were told not to address her unless we were addressed. She was up in a box and she came down on stage after with Princess Anne. She said lovely, pretty girls. I said and not bad body, and she said, “oh, no, not bad bodies!””
27.?If you had to play any real life person in a movie, who would you want to play?
“I would want to play Jane Goodall.”
28.?What’s a fond childhood memory you have?
“Packing into the high Sierra’s on horse back and staying for 3 weeks every year, without seeing another human being. It was heaven. All our supplies were on mule back.”
29.?I was wondering what your favorite book is, or what book have you always wanted to read but haven’t had a chance to yet?
“My lifetime favorite are all of the Oz books.”
30.?Betty, what music have you been listening to lately?
“Opera and ballads, preferably by Johnny Mercer.”
Want more? Read through the entire AMA.
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
